The time is fast approaching when the gates open and the Royal Ascot Meeting gets underway and some ladies have been planning what to wear for this essential event on many ladies social calendars, for weeks if not months now. The occasion is not just about the horse racing but how to dress to impress at this wonderful venue.

This year at our boutique in Worcester, we have seen and helped many ladies who have perfect outfits for Ascot truly put the special “icing on the cake” and accessorise them with our wonderful and stunning quality English made hats and fascinators and headpieces from top brands like Whiteley; as well as helping them to one or two nice evening gowns for that special night to follow in London or surrounding areas!

If you are missing out this year and plan to go next year instead, you maybe wondering what to wear to the ascot races? Be warned however, in the excitement of choosing dresses and outfits for Royal Ascot, you must be be careful now especially if you go to the royal enclosure as it has a very strict Ascot dress code including a ban on fascinators in the royal enclosure!

The new dress code was first launched in January 2012 because over recent years a few raunchy and rowdy racegoers began to increasingly wear more inappropriate attire and dresses for the occasion. Now there are strict guides in place for length of skirt and even width of dress straps and hat brims, for example the Ascot racecourse website states:

“Hats should be worn; a headpiece which has a base of four inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat.”
In the grandstand, which is open to the public and subject to less stringent rules, a hat or fascinator will be compulsory for women.
The new dress code essentially looks at dress or skirt length, strap width and hat rules. Avoid getting caught out on the day and check the official Royal Ascot’s full dress code guide here long before you chose your outfit.

If you are looking for a hat, fascinator headpiece or hatinator for next years event, then plan early as we order our hats months in advance, so to get the best choice and one to best match your outfit, chose early. Enjoy the races!